Sewing machine looper mechanism



March 13, 1934 J. R OLlVER SEWING MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM OriginalFiled June 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [MVENTOR dOhh RollvY BY MW,

A TTORNE Y8,

March 13, 1934. I J o v -jq 1,950,566

SEWING MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM Original Filed June 4. 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 2 E a 'JAW; Rohm 5 wgw mmw mbell ATTORNEYS.

Mmh 13, 1934,

J. R. QLIVER' SEWiNG MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM Original Filed, June 4,1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Ooh-n R. Oh ve BY NWM KMLM *MQnI/J ATTORNEYS enema Ma. 13, 1934 11,950,566 SEWING MACHINE LOOPERMECHANIISM John Roger Oliver, Mcdfield,Mass., assignor to Reece Shoe Machinery Company, Boston, Mass.,

a corporation of Maine Original application June 4, 1931, Serial No.542,048. Divided and this application July 9,

1932, Serial No. 621,550

7 Claims. (oi. 112-55) This invention is a novel sewing machine loopermechanism, and relates more particularly to power driven types ofmachine for stitching leather or shoes, a typical instance of suchmachine being the so-called outsole stitcher by which the outsole andwelt of a shoe are attached together by lock stitches formed by twothreads, of which the upper thread is usually supplied from a shuttle.

The present application is a division of copending parent applicationSerial No. 542,048, filed June 4, 1931, to which reference may be madefor various features not herein described.

One of the general objects of the present invention is to afiord asewing machine of the power driven type referred to which 'will behighly emcient and convenient in action, and which'will possess easyrunning qualities, permitting it to be operated at higher speeds thanheretofore customary. It is a particular object and feature hereof toafford easy and smooth running qualities of the looper.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be "pointed out in the hereinafter following description of anillustrative embodiment thereof, or will be understood to thoseconversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objects andadvantages the present invention consists in the novel sewing machineand the novel features of operation, combination and construction hereinillustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upperportion or stitching head of a shoe outsole stitching machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention, but with a numberof parts omitted or broken away for purposes of better illustration.

Fig. 2 is a partial left elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a right elevation of the looper and the parts and connectionsfor effecting its operative movements.

Fig. 4 is an inclined sectiontaken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a right elevation corresponding in part with Fig. 3, but withcertain parts broken away for better disclosure of other parts.

Fig. 6 is a left elevation of the same parts as in Fig. 5 with certainof them broken-away.

Fig. '7 is an inclined view looking down upon the parts shown in Fig. 3along the direction of the arrow 7 thereon.

Fig. 8 is a diagram indicating the approximate preferred motions of theseveral stitching instruments, as performed herein; with a timing linefor each instrument showing its action in each cycle, and the diagramrepresenting one complete stitch cycle or stitching shaft rotation, withsubdivisions into angular degrees, and the zero point. representing thepositions of the several instruments at the preferred stopping point ofthe M machine. a

Said figures correspond substantially with Figs. 1, a and 8 to 13respectively of the parent application. I

Describing first some of the general machine parts and actuatingelements, the fixed frame part or head 20 may be at the upper end of atall post so that the operator may stand while handling the work.Bearings 21 give support to a drive shaft 22 which may be rotated forexm ample by a grooved pulley driven by belt from an electric motor atthe base of the machine. Above the drive shaft is what will be termedthe stitching shaft 23 turning in an outer bearing 24 at the left and ina first or left hand frame wall 25 and a right hand wall 26, upstandingfrom the base 20.

Instead of gears communicating rotation from one shaft to the otherthere is shown a system of driving cranks and rods as follows. At theleft and right ends of drive shaft and stitching shaft 30 are crankpairs connected by rods 31 and 32 in a manner more fully described andclaimed in copending divisional application Serial No. 609,373 filed May5, 1932.

The stitching shaft 23 is shown provided at its left end with a handwheel 34 used for rotating the shaft manually. Between the bearing 24and the frame wall 25 the shaft 23 carries a first operating crankhaving connections for actuating the needle and needle guide, andpreferably the thread mechanism. Inside, and between the two framewalls, the stitching shaft has a second operating crank connected forthe actuation of the awl and feed motion, and a third crank 3'?connected for actuating the looper. 95

Referring next to the stitching instruments,

with which are included not only the-needle and other movableinstruments acting directly upon the thread or the work, but certainauxiliary parts or instruments having a special function or motion inthe formation of the stitches, these will be designated by letters ofthe alphabet for purposes of distinction.

Thus the work support A is a stationary part in the form of a bracketattached to the left frame 1 wall 25, its forward extremity arranged tosupport the work in proper relation to the other instruments and beingapertured for the alternate passage of the needle and the awl throughthe work and support. As well understood the shoe 6 control means,tension, thread lock etc.

Above and opposed to the work support is the presser foot B, released topermit each feed movement of the work, and thereafter depressed andlocked or clamped upon the work, until the succeeding feed movement, toresist the tendencies of the needle and awl to lift the work.

The needle C is curved, as usual, and with a barbed point entering thework from above, be-

ing mounted on a carrier oscillating about a point to the rear of andhigher than the stitching point or work support.

Cooperating with the needle is a needle guide D mounted on anoscillating carrier turning on the same axis or center as the needle soas to move concentrically therewith.

The needle and the needle guide and their mountings are carried bodilyupon a slide or block E arranged and fitted to be shifted to a slightextent at a forward and upward slant,

. while the needle is retracting or ascending after emergence from thework, so that the needle barb will stand somewhat further forward andupward than usual.

The awl F, which also serves as a feed point, is a memberwhichoscillates like the needle, but entering the work support and work frombe heath.

The feed slide G is an auxiliary stitching instrument of irregularextension which functions to shift left and right, the leftward movementbeing the feed movement, while the awl is in the work, the returnmovement following the extraction of the awl.

The looper H, below the work, is mounted rigidly on a carrying arm Hformed with an enlarged hub H and therebeyond a guiding extension H aswill be further described. The function of the looper is to feed orsupply the under thread, which may be waxed or unwaxed,

to the advanced needle, the looper cooperating with the thread hook I tolay.the thread in the barb of the needle, and having a movementadvancing it rightward to the needle for this purpose and retracting itto a removed position,,as shown on the diagram.

The take-up device J acts upon the under thread to let out the threadwhile passing over the shuttle and to take it up, preferably to anextent causing the upper thread to be drawn slightly into the work atthe completion of each stitch.

The shuttle may be of the rotary type and isv represented by its shaft KThe thread arm L cooperates with the needle and the shuttle above thework.

Inthe drawings the several stitching instruments are shown in the finalpositions which they would occupy upon the stoppage of the machine, topermit the removal and insertion of the work, the needle, needle guide,awl and feed slide being in their retracted positions; and there may bea stop motion giving definite final position, and releasing and liftingthe pres's'er, to wholly free the work. With this fact in mind therelative positions, or angles. of the cranks etc. on the stitching anddriving shafts are made clear by comparison of the respective views.

Thus, referring to Fig. 3 thecenter or axis of the shaft 23 is marked23*, while on Fig. 3 the axis of the third operating crank 37 is marked37*. The direction of rotation is clockwise in this right elevation.

The looper H which has a hollow terminus, through which the under threadis supplied for looping upon the needle, is mounted on a looper lever Hof irregular shape, this in turn biing formed rigid with a circular hubH to the right and rear of the stitching point, the hub having anextension H by which it is properly guided. The purpose of the looper,as usual, is to advance rightward to bring the thread up to the advancedposition of the needle barb, the looper and thread hook cooperating toplace the thread on the barb, and the looper subsequently retractingleftward, all as indicated in the diagram Fig. 8.

The hub H of the looper turns freely upon a circular member 125. Thismember however is not stationary but is mounted to turn upon an axle 126fixed in a bracket 127, as best seen in Fig. 3. The axle or stud 126 iseccentrically located in the member 125, so that the movements of thelatter are eccentric, and effect movements of the hub H as well shown inthe inclined view Fig. '7. The stud or axle \126 being at an incline, asseen in the right hand elevation Fig. 3, the movements of the looperparts H, H, H H will be in planes at right angles thereto, theoscillating movement of the looper, to be described, being in acorresponding plane, for effective cooperation with the needle andthread hook. The noun eccentric is intended to include a crank which isa particular form of eccentric.

The eccentric 125 is arranged to be oscillated through its underneathflange 128, which at one side has an extension carrying a sphere or aportion of a sphere 129, connected, as/will be described, foroscillation from the third operating crank 37. Adjustment of theposition and throw of the eccentric with respect to its carrying flange128 may be effected by a bolt and slot adjusting device 130, as seen inFig. 7.

The extension H of the looper hub is for guiding purposes and is formedwith an elongated slotoccupied by a block'131 turning upon a fixed stud132 extending downwardly from a bracket 133, as best seen in Figs. 1, 3and 7. When the eccentric oscillates in reverse directions the extensionH reciprocates on the block 131 turning upon the fixed stud 132 as acenter, so that the looper lever oscillates with respect to the stud 132while movinglongitudinally, giving a resultant path 135 as indicated inFigs. 3 and 7. As shown on the diagram the advancing movement toward theneedle is relatively rapid while the return or leftward movement isrelatively slow.

Such actuation of the looper parts may be effected by connections fromthe crank 37 to the sphere 129 as will now be described.

On the crank 3'7 is a pitman 137 having two forward extensions which maybe termed the left fork 138 and right fork 139. As shown in Fig. 4 anirregular shape stud member connects the forward ends of the forks 138and 139, comprising a stud portion 141 engaging the fork 138, andadjacent the same a spherical portion 142, and therebeyond a studportion 143 eccentric with 141 and engaging the fork 139. Engaged on thestud portion 141 is the hub of a radius arm 144 which at its upper endis mounted for swinging about a fixed stud or axle 145, thus determiningthe movements of the pitman as the crank revolves. Surrounding the studportion 143 is shown a collar 14? flxed thereon, its periphery flattenedat opposite sides to receive a fork 153 to be described.

Engaged on the spherical surface 142 is a head 149 correspondinglyshaped, to constitute therewith a universal connection; this head beingformed at the rear end of an inclined connecting rod 150, the forwardend of which is provided with a head 151 engaging the sphere 129extending from the eccentric flange 128 already described. Cooperatingwith the head 151 is a plate 152 confining the head upon the sphere thusconstituting a universal joint at the forward end of the connecting rod150. By this means the oscillating movement in a vertical plane of thepivotal connection between pitman 13'! and radius arm 144 iscommunicated as an oscillation in an inclined plane of the eccentric125, which in turn delivers the looper movements already described.

A fork 153 is shown having two of its arms straddling the squared collarM7 of the stud 143, the outer end of the fork being attached by athreaded pin 154 with the connecting rod 150.

At the left side of the head 149 is shown a threaded collar 155 engagedwithin the head, and forming part of the spherical surface engaging thesphere 142. This permits assembly, and the collar 1551s held againstrotation by attachment to the connecting rod 150 by the threaded pn 154.I

The sphere or head 142 is shown as formed with an extension 157 having apair of lugs 158 straddling the left fork 138 of the pitman 137, thuspreventing rotation of the head 142 and studs l-il, 143, relative to thepitman.

By the described looper mechanism the desired looper movements areproduced. The crank 37 actuates the pitman 13''! and the free end of thepitman is guided by the radius arm 14.4, thus determinng movements ofthe pivotal connection between the pitman and radius arm forwardly andrea wardly at varying speeds, which movements are transmitted by theuniversal connection or link 150 to cause an extended oscillation of theeccentric or crank on which the looper carrier H is directly mounted. Bythis arrangement to and fro curvilinear movements will be given to thelooper carrier, these being controlled longitudinally by the slidingdevice H 131, resulting in the arcuate looper path as shown in Figs. 3and '7, this path as shown in Fig. 3 being substantially at right anglesto the direction of the needle C or the movement of its barb at the timeof takng the loop below the work. 1

Not only is a very effective looper movement thus accorded, but this isdone by comparatively few parts, mainly the pitman, the radius arm, thelink and the eccentric, all driven in harmonic motion by the stitchingshaft crank 3'7.

Having thus described a sewing machine looper mechanism embodying theprinciples of the present invention, it is not intended to limit theinvention to matters of operation, arrangement or structure except tothe extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, abarbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from saidshaft, and a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on theneedle barb, a carrier for said looper, an eccentric at a middle part ofand directly engaging the looper carrier to cause an arc-movement,thereof with both longitudinal and lateral components, a slide devicecooperating with another part of the carrier to guide its longitudinalmovements while permit ting rocking about a fixed axis, and connectionsfor oscillating said eccentric to give a resultant arc-movement to'thelooper along the same path in opposite directions in coordination with,the

' needle.

2. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, abarbed needle penetrating the work irom above and oscillated from saidshaft, and a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on theneedle barb, a carrier for said looper, an eccentric device engaging amiddle part of the looper carrier to cause an arc movement thereto, aslide device cooperating with another part of the carrier to guide itslongitu dinal movements, and connections for oscillating said eccentricdevice to give a resultant arcmovemerit to the looper in coordinationwith the needle; the eccentric device being arranged on an inclined axisapproximately parallel to the path of the needle barb at its loop-takingpoint whereby the looper movements are in a plane at right anglesthereto.

3. A machine as in claim 2 and wherein is crank on said shaft, 2. pitmanon said crank, and

a link connecting said pitman and said eccentric,

with a universal joint at each end of said link.

4. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, abarbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from saidshaft, and a looper operating below the worir to lay a thread loop onthe needle barb, a car rier for said looper, an eccentric deviceengaging a middle part of the looper carrier to cause an arc-movementthereto, a slide device cocperating with another part or the carrier toz;

its longitudinal movements, and connections for oscillating saideccentric device to give a re sultant arc-movement to the looper incoordinat tion with the needle, said connections including a crank onsaid shaft, a pitman on said crank,

and a link connecting said pitman and said ec centric, with a. universaljoint at each end of said link.

5. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, abarbed needle penetrat- 1 ing the work from above and oscillated fromsaid shaft, a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop onthe needle barb, and looper mechanism comprising a carrier for saidlooper,

an eccentric engaging one part of the looper can i rier to give anarc-movement to the carrier with components both longitudinal andlateral, a slide device co-operating with another part 02 the carrier toguide its longitudinal movements while permitting rocking about a fixedaxis, and nections for oscillating said eccentric to give resultantarc-movement to the looper along same path in opposite directions incoordingnt... with the needle.

6. In a power operated stitching machine, shaft, a. work support, abarbed needle penetrei ing the work from above and oscillated ii saidshaft, a' looper operating below the war to lay a thread loop on theneedle barb, an looper mechanism comprising a carrier for looper, aneccentric device engaging one pr the looper carrier to give anarc-mover. the carrier, a guide device cooperating with other part ofthe carrier to guide it nal movements, and connections for cscii saideccentric device to give a resultant arc-movement to the looper incoordination with the needle; the eccentric device being arranged on aninclined axis approximately parallel to the path of the needle barb atits loop-taking position whereby the curved looper movements areapproximately at right angles to the needle at such position.

7. In a power operated stitching machine. a shaft, a work support, abarbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from saidshaft, a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on theneedle barb, and looper mechanism comprising a carrier for said looper,an

eccentric device engaging one part of the looper carrier to give anarc-movement to the carrier,

looper.

JOHN ROGER OLIVER.

